Director of Operations - Food Manufacturing

Walker Bowen Talent Partners•Dickinson Township, PA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Walker Bowen Talent Partners is proud to continue our partnership with a leading food manufacturer in Gardners, PA, in search of their next Director of Operations. This is an on-site role; permanent position; candidates must be authorized to work in the US without current or future need of sponsorship. About Our Client Our client is a grower-owned cooperative and one of the most trusted names in food manufacturing, known for its strong heritage, commitment to quality, and collaborative culture. With multiple facilities across Pennsylvania, they produce top-quality brands and private-label products with pride and precision. They maintain a tight-knit, servant-leadership-driven culture that values initiative, teamwork, and continuous improvement. If you’re a proven operations leader with experience in food manufacturing who thrives on collaboration and transformation, this is your opportunity to make a significant impact. Why Join Our Client? Stable, employee-owned cooperative with strong community roots. Collaborative and inclusive culture that values leadership and initiative. Opportunity to lead a major transition toward OEE-driven performance. Supportive executive leadership that mentors and empowers its teams. If you’re an experienced food manufacturing operations leader with a passion for continuous improvement and hands-on collaboration, we’d love to hear from you. This is an ideal time to join our client’s leadership team and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of their operations. The Opportunity Our client is seeking an experienced Director of Operations to provide strategic and hands-on leadership across all manufacturing facilities. Reporting to the VP of Operations, this role will drive operational excellence, lead Plant Managers, and champion continuous improvement initiatives across multiple production sites. This position is ideal for a change agent who can balance strategic oversight with day-to-day operational engagement, ensuring all plants achieve and exceed performance goals.

Requirements

Completed Bachelor's Degree in Business, Engineering or Manufacturing discipline.
5–7 years of Director of Operations experience within Food Manufacturing (or closely related product like ingredients or packaging), having previously served as a Plant Manager.
Change Agent who has demonstrated experience building and implementing strategic improvements.
Servant leader who builds trust and engagement across teams.
Proven ability to lead transformation and foster collaboration among long-tenured employees.
Strategic thinker who’s also hands-on when needed.
Strong understanding of OEE, yield improvement, cost control, and throughput.
Demonstrated experience managing manufacturing budgets, capital project approval cycles, and supporting Capex process.
Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership skills.
Proficient in Microsoft Office; ERP experience preferred (Oracle a plus).

Nice To Haves

Lean Manufacturing experience preferred; certifications in Lean, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement are a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead and mentor Plant Managers across three production facilities (approx. 600 total employees) to ensure safety, quality, and efficiency.
Drive standardization of operational practices and continuous improvement initiatives across all sites.
Partner with the VP of Operations to manage manufacturing budgets, KPIs, and performance targets.
Champion the rollout of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) metrics and drive performance improvements.
Collaborate with Continuous Improvement and Plant Teams to execute Kaizen events, 5S programs, and Lean initiatives.
Serve as liaison between plant operations and corporate functions such as Engineering, HR, Finance, Marketing, and Supply Chain.
Support capital projects and long-range operational planning.
Foster a culture of empowerment, accountability, and teamwork.